Horseshoe-machine.



A. SMITH, DEUD. n. M. a. J. E. SMITH, EXEOUflORg.

HORSESHOE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1905.

Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Witnesses ml-ljYe At turneys.

muazw. B. mum ca, PMuTmumuGRAPHERs. WASHINGTON. n. c.

A. SMITH, DEGD, E. M. '& J. E. SMITH, EXEGUTORS. HORSESHOE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 23, 1905. Feb- 8,

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Witnesses Inventor Attorneys.

ANDREW. a. GRAHAM cu, pmm-Llmocmruins. WASNINGTGN, n. c.

A. SMITH, DEGD. E. H. & J. E. SMITH, nxsourpns. HORSESHOE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED Nov. 23, 1905. 948,470. Patented Feb. 8, 1910. aSHEETS-SHEET a.

'ANOREW. a cmmm co., Pmm-umocmvxiws, WASHINGTON. u c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR SMITH, OF EASTON, PENNSYLVANIA; ELIZABETH M. SMITH AND JOHNERNEST SMITH EXEGUTORS OF SAID ARTHUR SMITH, DECEASED.

HORSESHOE-MACHINE.

Application filed November 23, 1905.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR SMrrrI, a citizen of the United States,residing in Easton, county of Northampton, State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Horseshoe-Illachines,of which the following is a description.

The object I have in view is to construct a machine for squeezing theends of billets, and bending and forming them in the manufacture ofhorse shoes, which machine will be composed of few moving parts, will beexpeditions in operation, not liable to get out of order, can beoperated at a minimum expense, and may be readily adjusted to compensatefor wear and to accommodate different sizes and styles of shoes.

This machine is designed to squeeze, bend and form shoes from creased oruncreased billets cut to the proper length. By the act of squeezing thatportion of each billet which is to form the heel is thickened andshaped, by bending the billet is curved to U-shape, and by forming itthe heels are brought together to make the complete shoe. These termssqueezing, bending and forming are well understood in the art of horseshoe making.

By the present invention the three operations are carried on in a singlemachine, which may be adjusted for wear and to accommodate differentsized billets, and which may be operated at a minimum expense. I

Specification of Letters Patent.

attain these objects partly by operating the bending die by means of acam having a quick return, and an idle period, so that the operator willhave a maximum time to adjust billets, by providing mechanism for alwaysinsuring the ejectment of the finished shoe, by providing forming meanswhich will smoothly form the shoe without distortion, and by othermechanism as will more fully appear in the accompanying drawings andspecifications and claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan view Patented Feb. 8, 1910.

Serial No. 288,644.

6 is a side view of one of the cams and actuating rods. Fig. 7 is adetail of the adjustable cam, and Fig. 8 is a detail of a modified meansof attachment of the forming plate cams.

In all of the views like parts are designated by the same referencecharacters.

In :arrying out my invention I provide a frame 1, which includes ahorizontal member or table, all being preferably formed of a singlecasting. The support 1 is mounted upon standards or legs 2, so that itmay be raised to an elevation which will be con venient. The framecarries bearings 3 for a shaft 4. his shaft carries fast and loosepulleys 5 and 6 and a suitable driving belt and belt-shifter (notshown), and is geared through the pinion 7 and the gear 8, which is on asecond shaft 9. This second shaft carries the cams 10, 10, for actuatingthe forming dies 11 through the agency of the cams 12 and rollers 13.The shaft carries also the eccentrics 1 1 for actuating the squeezingdies 15.

16 is the table upon which the shoe is bent, and 17 the cover havingears 18 for preventing the dies from flying upward while the shoe isbeing bent and formed between the dies. This table is in the form of anoverhanging shoulder, as shown, projecting into a cutaway portion 1 ofthe main frame. The table has an enlarged portion 16 adjacent to itspoint of support and a narrower portion 16 beyond. The wider part 16 issufficiently wide to support a shoe upon it in a horizontal position.The narrow portion 16 is sufliciently narrow to permit the shoe tostraddle it and lie in a vertical position after being formed, so thatitmay be ejected through the cutaway portion 1. The length of the tableis such that when the shoes are being formed they will rest upon theportion 16 with their heels upon the part 16. The

1 top of the table carries a bearing plate 16 of of a complete machineembodying my invention. Fig. '2 is a section taken on the lines I ofFig. 1. Fig. 0 is a transverse section taken on the lines 3, 3, ofFig. 1. Fig. 4c is a detail sectional view of a portion of the mechanismtaken on the lines 4:, 1, of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the samedetail, but with a portion removed. Fig.

harder metal, such as steel, to take up wear from the cast iron table.

The bending die 19 is carried by a sliding member 20, which works withinthe recess 21 so as to be guided. The member 20 carries an anti-frictionroller 22 and cars 23.

To the latter are connected links 24:,which are joined to an arm 25.This arm 25 is pivoted at 26 and is engaged by a rod 27, the latterbeing moved by a spring 28. A support having an opening for the passageof the rod strap 46 to form a 27 serves as a guide and support therefor,and also as an abutment for one extremity of the spring 28. The otherextremity engages with a washer 30 held upon the rod 27 by the nuts 31.The end of the rod 27 where it engages with the arm is rounded at 32 andenters a counter-sunk portion formed in the arm. By this arrangement therod 27 will always truly engage with the arm irrespective of theposition of the latter. This mechanism as described constitutes aretracting means for the slide 20, and also a means for causing theroller 22 to always engage with the cam.

The main driving cam 33 is carried upon the shaft 9 and rotatestherewith and in engagement with the roller 22, as shown in Fig. 2. Thiscam is of irregular shape, hav ing a curved portion 34, a straight ornearly straight sharply inclined portion 35, a sec ond curved portion36, on one side ending in a point 37 and a single curved portion 38 onthe other side. The portion 34 is for the purpose of advancing the dieinto engagement with the billet and for preliminarily bending the same.The sharply inclined portion 35 is for the purpose of moving the diewhile the billet is being formed by means of the forming rollers 11,which will be described. The portion 36 is for the purpose of moving thedie and with it the billet beyond the engagement of the dies, and thepoint 37 is for the purpose of giving a blow or jar to the die as wellas to the entire machine to eject the billet from the table 16.

The forming dies 11 are each in the shape of a broad flat plate, havinga roller 11 at one corner for engaging with the billet and for causingthe actual forming. The other end of the plate carries the roller 13 forengagement with the cam 12. These plates sliding within grooves betweenthe table 1 and the plate 17, would have a tendency to twist, but bymaking the plates of considerable width, as shown, this tendency will besuccessfully resisted. By employing a roller for doing the actualforming the billet is not scratched, or otherwise mutilated, as is thecase where no roller is used.

The cams 12 rest and freely slide upon auxiliary or supplemental frames41, bolted or otherwise fastened to the main frame. Each of these camsengages on its curved surface with the roller 13 and on its straightsurface with the roller 42. This latter is also carried by a block 43with a screw for adjustment. A projecting corner of the plate 11 restsupon the cam and keeps it seated. The cam is moved into engagementbetween the two rollers 13 and 42 by means of a connecting rod 44actuated by the cam 10 and returned by a spring 45. A strap 46 keeps thefree end of the rod down and an enlarged head 47 l l l l eaaavo stop andlimit the amount of the return movement of the rod. As shown in Figs. 5and (3 the cams 12 are not in any way connected to the connecting rods44, but simply rest upon the table and are prevented from moving upwardby means of the projecting corner of the plate 11. The cams are veryeasily removed for replacement or repair by simply sliding inward theforming plates 11 to uncover the cams.

If desired the modification shown in Fig. 8 may be employed, in whichthe cam is se cured to the connecting rod by means of a bolt 15, whichworks in a slot to allow for movement of the cam, depending upon theposition of the abutment roller 42. This abutment roller may be adjustedas already described so as to vary the position of the forming plates 11and to accommodate different sized shoes. The cams 15 will adjustthemselves without further attention, so that the parts will beautomatic in adjustment. A set screw 11 serves to limit the outwardmovement of the plate 11.

48, 48, are wedge blocks which are used to adjust the amount of squeezeand to accommodate different lengths and thicknesses of billets, byserving as a backing to the action of the squeezing dies 15. They restupon the frame 1 and back against a raised table 49, upon which theplates 11 slide. Each plate 11 has an offset 50 which slides be tweenthe sides of the table 49 and a raised ledge 51. Gibs 52, are used totake up wear and adjusting screws which pass through the ledge 51 andengage with the gibs 53 adjust the position of the latter.

The cover plate 17 has a shoulder 56 which rests upon the block 48 andfirmly holds the same in place. The other edge of the plate rests uponthe ledge 51. The plate is held in position by means of a bolt 5?, whichis provided with a washer and nut 58, as shown, and by means of which itmay be caused to engage with the ledge and with the block. The bolt 57passes through a slot 59. made in the forming plate 11 intermediate itsedges, so that the latter may freely slide within the opening betweenthe table 49 and cover 17. The cover 17 is preferably formed of castiron, which is slightly elastic, and is so adj usted in position by thebolt 5'? and. nut 58 that it is buckled or flexed, as shown, the boltbeing intermediate its ends, as shown, permitting this to be done. .Vhcnthe machine is in operation and the parts become heated from cont-actwith the hot billet the bolt 57 will expand and permit the cover toflatten somewhat, without, however, ceasing its close and intimateengagement with the block 48', which latter will be held firmly inposition. The latter may be adjusted to accommodate different sizedbillets by first slacking the nut 58, which will relieve the forms ashoulder for engaging with the 1 grasp of the plate 17 upon the table.

The operation of the device is as follows: The heated billet 39 isplaced upon the table it and alined in proper position by means of theadjustable rods 4:0, so that it will be properly supported. This is donewhile the die 19 is .in the retracted position, and before the main camhas reached the position shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the shafts beingcontinually turning. It is to be understood that the blocks 18 are firstproperly adjusted to a position determined by the character of thebillet. Upon the further rotation of the shaft 9 the curved portion 13-1of the cam engaging with th roller 22 will slide the member '20 and withit the die 19 into engagement with the billet. This movement will becomparatively rapid until the cam reaches a position'to cause theinclined portion 35 to engage with the roller; at this point themovement will be slower. This is indicated by the dotted line position Ain Fig. The inclined portion is preferably so arranged that it willserve to move the roller 22 and die 1%) the proper distance tocompletely form the shoe. Upon the further rotation of the shaft 9 theroller '32 will engage with the curved portion 36 of the cam moving thebent and formed shoe over the table 16 so that it will ordinarily dropoff of the table. reaches the position shown in dotted line position 13the point of the cam will pass beyond the roller 22 and allow the latterto return. is. however, there will be more or less momentum of themember 20 and the die 19 in the direction away from the cam, and as thecam is rotating at a considera bio rate of speed the roller will notkeep in constant engagement with all of the surface of the cam. Theroller willmove backward at the same time the cam continues to turn andthe roller will strike against the cam at a position some distanceremoved from the point. This will produce a decided blow upon the camand will jar the entire machine a sufficient extent to disengage theshoe from the die and the table should it have a tendency to stick. Theoperation will be continued without interruption so long as the. hotbillets are placed upon the table. There will be no danger of thebillets sticking to the die by being too hot as the blow of the rollerupon the cam will be sufficient to dislodge it.

The shape of the main cam is such thatthe bending die is held inretracted position during a comparatively long period of time, muchlonger than if cranks or eccentrics were used. This gives a greater timefor the attendant to place a fresh billet in place, withoutslowing theoperation of the machine and thereby reducing its output. I find inpractice that this improved machine may be operated as fast as thepreviously operated crank machines, and the billets in- After the cant ll i l i i t t l t troduced by a boy instead of a high priced man asrequired by the old machines, and the output will be as great if notgreater.

The heels are formed by means of the die plates 11 and roller 11. Theseare moved in by engagement of the cams 10 with the connecting rods 31and through the agency of the cams 15 and rollers 13 and the plates 11will be moved together at the proper moment forming the billet aroundthe die 19. This movement of the die plates and rollers occurs while thedie 1%) is being moved by the inclined portions 35 of the cam Theprojecting fingers 18 keep the forming plates down when they areextended, as they would have a tendency to rise owing to the liftingaction of the beveled sides of the shoe upon the forming rollers.

The cams 10 are preferably made adjustable, as shown in Fig. 4', so asto accommodate different sizes and shapes of shoes. Each is providedwith fingers 1O which grasp the shaft 6 and a bolt 10 which connects itto the gear 8, or to a disk 10. A bolt 10 permits accurate adjustment.The squeezing dies 15 are adjustably connected to their supports bymeans of bolts 1:") engaging with slots, as shown. The squeezing isaccomplished by means of the dies 1.5 and blocks 4-8. The dies andblocks are so adjusted that the ends of the billet will be upset betweenthe two, and the desirable extra thickness at the heels thereby formed.The inclined ed 'es of the dies acting upon the inclined bloc lzs willcause this upsetting formation. These dies are moved so that thesqueezing operation occurs before the bending and forming operations.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patentis:

1. In a horse shoe machine, the combination with the bending die, amovable support therefor, and arotating cam for moving it outward, and aspring opposing the action of the cam, the cam having a point at itsfarthest position of out-throw, so that when it moves beyond the diesupport the spring will draw it back and deliver a blow against the camand release the shoe from the die.

i In a horse-shoe machine, the combination with a table and a bendingdie, covers above the table and large flat plates resting upon the tableand below the covers, the said plates having each a roller at one cornerfor engagement with the billet, and means for sliding the plates, thewidth of the plates preventing them from being twisted.

3. In a horse shoe machine, the combination with a bending die, ofsliding forming plates, each having rollers at one end, of

ad ustable abutment rollers, and cams, means for moving the cams, thecams being freely connected to the moving means so as to permit ofadjustment of the abutment rollers.

4-. In a horse shoe machine, the coml'iination with a bending die, ofsliding forming plates, each having rollers at one end, 01 adjustableabutment rollers, and cams, means for moving the cams, the cams beingfreely connected to the moving means so as to permit of adjustment ofthe abutment rollers, f the said cams resting upon a table and merelyabutting against the moving means so that they can be lfGlllOYGClwithout unfastening.

In a horse shoe machine, the combination with a table and a bending die,of sliding forming plates, rollers thereon, and adjustable abutmentrollers, of free cams resting upon the table between the rollers, andcovered by the forming plates, and rods for moving the cams, the saidcams and rods merely abutting together.

(3. A horseshoe machine having in combination adjustable blocks opposedto squeeZ ing dies, a raised table and a cover plate, the blocks bearingagainst the raised table and being clamped between the table and coverplate, the said blocks forming a support for the cover plate, the facesof the blocks opposed to the dies being I and means for laterallyadjusting the blocks to the path of movement of the squeezing dies.

7. In a horse shoe machine, a table of such inclined.

a shape that one part of it Will be wider than the opening between theheels of the shoe and another part narrower, in combination with thebending die, and the sliding fornr ing dies so arranged that they willdo the bending and forming operations, while the heels of the shoe areresting upon the wider portion, and means for moving the formed shoealong the table to cause it to straddle the table.

8. In a horse shoe machine, the combination with a support, of a slidingforming plate, a cover plate therefor, a squeezing block, the said blockbeing clamped between the cover and support, and a securing bolt for thecover passing through it intermediate its ends, the said cover beingformed of elastic material, whereby it may be flexed or buckled, so thatit will always closely engage the block irrespective of expansion of theparts.

9. in a horse shoe machine, the combination with a sliding bending die,a cam for actuating it, a return lever, a rod engaging th.. with, thesaid lever having a socket within which the rod engages, and a springfor engaging the rod and actuating the lever.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21st day at November, 1905.

Lnonium H. DYER.

